OVERNIGHT. Jazz.

Young, Young At Heart

3 Generations Fill Ravinia Bill

It isn't often that a major music festival offers the debut of a 12-year-old jazz pianist, but that was the case Sunday night during the Ravinia Festival's Jazz in June series.

The appearance of Sergio Salvatore proved to be as appealing as it was unexpected. Ramsey Lewis, artistic director of Jazz in June, explained to the crowd that he had been so smitten with Salvatore's self-titled debut album (to be released later this month on GRP) that he decided the youngster deserved a concert engagement.

Lewis may be on to something. Though it's impossible to reach firm conclusions on the basis of the three numbers that Salvatore played, it seems clear that the young man is talented and musical.

Clearly, he already possesses a fairly fluid right-hand technique and knows how to balance a melody line against supporting chords and bass. His tone is warm and gentle, as he showed in his opening number, "Like Someone in Love."

The primary question, of course, is how much of the music comes from Sergio Salvatore and how much from his father-mentor, Luciano Salvatore, who played electric keyboard in the pianist's backing band. The coming years will provide an answer.

The two scheduled headliners for Sunday's show are well past their prodigy days, but their ebullience is undiminished.

Of all the virtuosos playing trumpet today, surely Arturo Sandoval stands among the most exuberant. As if to prove the point, he entered the stage already blasting the main theme of "Caravan" out of the park.

With the exception of Maynard Ferguson, no one playing the trumpet today draws as much sound from the instrument or attains such stratospheric high notes. Beyond sheer volume, however, Sandoval built his set on flying be-bop runs, fantastic plunger-mute effects and speedy scat singing.

There were a few tender moments as well, most notably on the Benny Golson ballad "I Remember Clifford." Here, Sandoval played fluegelhorn with a poetry and understatement that provided a respite from the pyrotechnics.

Singer Mel Torme, who closed the show, predates Sandoval by a generation. Yet the sureness of Torme's pitch, the precision of his scat and the warmth of his sound defy the passage of time.

Whether caressing the intricate melodic line of "Star Dust" or scatting rings around "Autumn Leaves," Torme reaffirmed his standing among the most adroit jazz singers.